We, personally, left many fears in the jungle, often through little or no conscious effort. What's more, we came home with the realization that if we could survive in the jungle, we could endure anything. Our tolerance for turmoil was leaps and bounds bigger than before.

Certainly the thought of zip-lining through the jungle was adding a dash of anxiety to my previously eaten breakfast. "I think I'm going to just read," I said. A Stephen King book on the porch was the kind of jungle thrill I was in the mood for.

Maybe your cruise ship docked for only a day in Belize. If so, book the next flight you can back to this breathtaking Central American country. Its 9,000 square miles has an abundance of adventures to offer and is often overlooked by travelers.

In this very popular Latin American country, The Palms is the only upscale property of its kind that is right on the beach. There are eco-lodges and boutique hotels and places to buy with views of the beach, but nothing high-end where the sand is seconds from your door.